Air flap device for a motor vehicle including an optical functional check

Abstract

An air flap device for a motor vehicle, to a plurality of jointly adjustable air flaps and to an actuator for adjusting the plurality of air flaps between a closed position and an open position, the air flap device including a radiative detection device for detecting and assessing a position of the plurality of air flaps; the radiative detection device having a radiation source and a radiation receiver, the radiation source emitting an electromagnetic test radiation in the direction toward the radiation receiver, at least one air flap as a test air flap having a test section through which the test radiation is able to radiate, the test section being situated in the propagation path of the test radiation from the radiation source to the radiation receiver in such a way that only when the test air flap is in a predetermined reference operating position at least a portion of the test radiation radiates through the test section toward the radiation receiver and reaches the radiation receiver with an irradiation result within a predetermined irradiation result space.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An air flap device for a motor vehicle, comprising a frame having an air passage opening, a plurality of air flaps accommodated on the frame in a jointly adjustable manner, which protrude at least into the air passage opening, and an actuator for adjusting the plurality of air flaps between two operating positions of different coverage of the air passage opening by the plurality of air flaps, the air flaps being jointly adjustable between a closed position, in which the air flaps cover the air passage opening to a greater degree against a flow through the passage, and an open position, in which the air flaps cover the air passage opening to a lesser degree against a flow through the passage, the air flap device further including a radiative detection device for detecting and assessing a position of the plurality of air flaps,
 wherein the radiative detection device comprises a radiation source and a radiation receiver, the radiation source emitting an electromagnetic test radiation in the direction of the radiation receiver, at least one air flap from the plurality of air flaps as a test air flap having a test section through which the test radiation is able to pass, the test section being situated in the propagation path of the test radiation from the radiation source to the radiation receiver in such a way that when the test air flap is in a predetermined reference operating position, at least one portion of the test radiation radiates through the test section toward the radiation receiver and reaches the radiation receiver with an irradiation result within a predetermined irradiation result space, and when the test air flap is not in the predetermined reference operating position, the test radiation does not reach the radiation receiver with an irradiation result within the predetermined irradiation result space.   
     
     
         16 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of air flaps comprises multiple test air flaps, each of which includes one test section. 
     
     
         17 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the multiple test air flaps with their test sections are arranged in series, so that at least a portion of test radiation reaches the radiation receiver with an irradiation result within in a predetermined irradiation result space only when all test air flaps of the plurality of air flaps are in their respective reference operating position, and the test radiation does not reach the radiation receiver with an irradiation result within a predetermined irradiation result space when at least one of the multiple test air flaps is not in its reference operating position. 
     
     
         18 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the test air flap has a planar flap section, which is situated in the area of the air passage opening for changing the ability of air to flow through it, and a bearing section, which is designed in cooperation with a mating bearing section on the frame for the adjustable support of the test air flap on the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the test section is developed in the bearing section. 
     
     
         20 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the test air flap is situated on the frame so as to be swivable about a flap swivel axis, the test radiation being able to radiate through the test section in at least one of the following directions: crosswise to the flap swivel axis or along the flap swivel axis. 
     
     
         21 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the test air flap is situated on the frame so as to be swivable about a flap swivel axis, the test radiation being able to radiate through the test section in at least one of the following directions: crosswise to the flap swivel axis or along the flap swivel axis. 
     
     
         22 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the radiation source and the radiation receiver are situated on one and the same side of the air passage opening. 
     
     
         23 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the test section comprises or is a clearance. 
     
     
         24 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the test section comprises an optical radiation conductor having an entry area and an exit area, the optical radiation conductor conducting the electromagnetic test radiation from an entry area to an exit area of the optical radiation conductor. 
     
     
         25 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the radiative detection device comprises an optical radiation conductor that is fixed on the frame, which conducts the test radiation at least along a section of the path from the radiation source to the radiation receiver. 
     
     
         26 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the radiation source and the radiation receiver are located on the same side of the at least one test section and the radiative detection device comprises a radiation reversal device, which deflects the test radiation reaching it by 170° to 190°. 
     
     
         27 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the test radiation is able to radiate through the test air flap along the flap swivel axis, the radiative detection device comprising at least one beam-refracting and/or beam-diffracting and/or beam-polarizing and/or beam-interfering device. 
     
     
         28 . The air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the radiation receiver is designed to differentiate irradiation results of at least one of the irradiation properties of irradiation intensity, irradiation wavelength, irradiation location and irradiation pattern of the test radiation irradiating the radiation receiver. 
     
     
         29 . A vehicle having an air flap device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a control device of the vehicle is designed for signal transmission with the detection device of the air flap device and for evaluating signals transmitted by the detection device.